The incorporation of fluorine in epoxy resins has been the focus of
research for many years, aiming to reduce water absorption and to
improve the degradation resistance in hot-moist environments. To this
end resins have been synthesised from fluorinated monomers while
crosslinking was induced by conventional hardeners.
In the present work conventional diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy
resins were modified by the addition of small amounts of
perfluoropolyether oligomers containing functional groups at the chain
ends. Compatibilisation of these oligomers in epoxy resins was achieved
through end-capping and chain extension reactions.
Such modifications of the fluoroligomers only affect marginally the
viscosity of the resin mixture. Using hexahydrophthalic anhydride as
the main hardener and through selective curing procedures the
morphology of the crosslinked resins was controlled to. produce either
transparent formulations, consisting essentially of an IPN monophase
structure, or opaque systems containing precipitated spherical
particles. Perfect adhesion is exhibited at the particle interface with the
matrix, i.e. there was a complete absence of de bonding during fracture[continued]...

Description:

A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.